In eighteenth-century England; actresses were frequently dismissed as mere prostitutes trading on their sexual power rather than their talents. Yet they were; Felicity Nussbaum argues; central to the success of a newly commercial theater. Urban; recently moneyed; and thoroughly engaged with their audiences; celebrated actresses were among the first women to achieve social mobility; cultural authority; and financial independence. In fact; Nussbaum contends; the eighteenth century might well be called the "age of the actress" in the British theater; given womens influence on the dramatic repertory and; through it; on the definition of femininity.Treating individual star actresses who helped spark a cult of celebritymdash;especially Anne Oldfield; Susannah Cibber; Catherine Clive; Margaret Woffington; Frances Abington; and George Anne Bellamymdash;Rival Queens reveals the way these women animated issues of national identity; property; patronage; and fashion in the context of their dramatic performances. Actresses intentionally heightened their commercial appeal by catapulting the rivalries among themselves to center stage. They also boldly challenged in importance the actor-managers who have long dominated eighteenth-century theater history and criticism. Felicity Nussbaum combines an emphasis on the actresses themselves with close analysis of their diverse roles in works by major playwrights; including George Farquhar; Nicholas Rowe; Colley Cibber; Arthur Murphy; David Garrick; Isaac Bickerstaff; and Richard Sheridan. Hers is a comprehensive and original argument about the importance of actresses as the first modern subjects; actively shaping their public identities to make themselves into celebrated properties.
#2559240 in eBooks 2013-04-19 2013-04-19File Name: B00B4FJ8RQ
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Great for illustratorsBy Scott Phave really enjoyed using this book to study detail and the human body..Its hard to beat the level and skill that Leonardo left us with..60 of 63 people found the following review helpful. Leonardos MasterpieceBy rareoopdvdsLeonardo Da Vincis anatomical drawings; due to his extreme curiosity; became one of his most profound works to date. Published by Dover from the original text 1952. The book is set up in 2 columns and broken up into headers of different anatomical structures; either of bones; muscles; ventricles of the heart or brains. The chapters are broken into systems: nervous; cardiovascular; myological; osteological; respitory; alimentary and others. Within the text there are italicized words. These are the words written on the drawing itself; in Leonardos usual backward writing style. Some of you might be curious; beyond the drawings themselves to read what Leonardo thought at the time. And from there is the authors commentary. For those interested in anatomy; drawing; painting or anything in the art field; this book is highly reccoemended; for it has limitless reference value. I continually look at it for my drawings. One will also notice that many of the "models" are of the same body or person. This is because Leonardo asked a friend on his deathbed if he could cut him up; dissect him and then draw him. The friend; of course; consented to this; and so we have Leonardos masterpiece. Highly reccomended! Also reccomended is his Notebooks; also printed by Dover.8 of 10 people found the following review helpful. Not for meBy A. DummaiIf you are thinking that buying this book would help you learning a secret of leonardos drawing; this is not that book you are looking for . You would learn better with bridgemans anatomy book or somebody else. This book is pure anatomy and science.If you like reading texts and texts; then this is probably for you; but not me.